Display-rack.



F. M. EHmnGE.

DISPLAY RACK.

I APPLICATION F| LED JULY l0, |918. 1,300,942.

Patented Apr. 15,1919.

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F. M. ETHRIDGE.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPHCATON FLED JULY 10| 19111. 1,30G,942 Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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U'Nrrn srnfrns 'ATNT FREDERICK M. ETHRIDGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO B. E. STEWART, 0F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS. u

msrLAr-RACK.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. ETH- RIDGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,` resid-` ing at Boston, in the county of SuEolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inDisplay-Racks, of which the following is a specification. This inventionis embodied in certain improvements relating to a display rack embodyingthe invention pointed out in the claims of Patent No. 1,259,005, datedMarch 12, 1918. rllhe object of said improvements is to increase thestrength, durability and convenience of operation of a rack embodyv ingthe said invention.

0f the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatiom-Figure l is aside elevation of the improved display rack.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, portions being -broken away. YFig. 3 is a section on line 3,-3 of Fig. 1.

vF ig. 4 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the merchandise carrier hereinafterdescribed, detached from the supporting frame.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an enlargement of a portion of Fig.5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing an enlargement of another portionof Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of one of the channeled bars hereinafterdescribed, and 35 an elevation of portions of one of the merchandisecarriers engaged with said bar.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of one of said track bars, andshows portions of three of the merchandise carriers.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 9, and an elevation of partsat the left of said line. v Y

.Fig 12 is a fragmentary top plan view hereinafter referred to.

v Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing the channeled track bar in sideelevation, one of the side flanges o-f said bar being removed.

The rack embodying vthe improvements hereinafter descrfibed includes, asin the 50 patent above mentioned, two rigid end frames, each including abase member 12, and vertical standards 13 attached at their lower endsto the base member and projecting upwardly therefrom. T he standards 1355 are preferably of metal tubing and are ex- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 10, 1918.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.'

serial No. 244,298.

tended at their lower portions through the being spaced apart andextending horizontally from one end frame tothe other, so that theyconstitute rigid connections bctween the upper portions of the endframe.

Each bar 19, as here shown, includes a central web or neck 19a and outerand inner flanges 19b and 19c projecting downwardly from said neck.

To the outer flange 191b is attached an upwardly facingweight-supporting track member 20, preferably having a rraised rib 21adapted to engage a grooved trolley 22 f connected with the merchandisecarrier hereinafter described, said trolley rotating ona horizontalaxis.The inner flange 19c constitutes a laterally facing track member adaptedto coperate with a thrust bearing roller 23 connected with the saidmerchandise carrier and rotating `on a vertical axis.

Each channeled track bar 19 is secured at opposite ends to twostandards13, the standards being provided with fixed collars or enlargements v25to which the bars 19 are attached by screws 25a. The'collars 25 haveears 26 which are perforated to receive the ends of'A elongated trussrods 27, .extending through the channels of the` bars 19 from end toend, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The end portions of thetruss rods 27 are raised andk screw-threaded, and provided with nuts 28which are seated on the ears 26, the latter constituting abutments forheads formed on the truss rods by said nuts. The truss rods stiften thechanneled bars 19 and prevent them from sagging at the center under theweight of the merchandise carriers and their loads, the end portions ofthe truss rods also constituting bearings which assist the screws 25a insupporting the weight of the bars 19. Y The depressed central portionsof the truss rods bear on downwardly facing abutments 3.0 (Figs. 1 and13) attached to the bars 19. v

The v The rack includes a plurality of merchandise carriers supported bythe track members 20 and trolleys 22, each carrier being preferablyconstructed as follows:

31 (Fig. 5) represents a hanger bar con-- stituting a member of amerchandise carrier and provided at its end portion with bracky ets'32having bearings for the axles of the trolleys 22 and rollers 23 'abovedescribed. 34 represents an elongated rod constituting another member ofthe carrier and centrallyA connected with the hanger bar 31 by avertical king bolt 35. vrIhe rod 34 is therefore adapted toswing in ahorizontal` plane7 so that it may extend either crosswise or lengthwiseyof the frame. Fig.` 1 shows three carriers adjusted with the rods 34extending' crosswise of the frame, and another rod 34 extendinglengthwise of the frame. Provil ksion is made, therefore, for storingthe rods side by side compactly at one end portion of the frame, andutilizing the remaining portion of the frame to contain the carrier, therodl 14I ,lever and bolt with the lever raised or projected. The bolt 36may be retracted by means including a 5) fulcrumed at an end portion ofthe carrier at a distance from the lever Y37, a rod' 40 connecting'thelevers 37 and 39, and a pull rod 41 whereby the lever 39 maybe movedfrom the normal position in which it is held by the sprin 38.`

In a rack adapted` the rod 34, which is provided with rug-en gagingspurs V42, is located sohigh above the floor that it cannot beconveniently` grasped and moved by an' operator standing on the floor. Itherefore provide the mer-v chandise carrier with a handle bar 43 which;

is connected'with the rod 34 by transverse bars or frame members-44and'45. The bar 43 is provided with handles 43 at its ends,

j adapted to be graspedby the operator.

The object of the track members 19Ck onV the channeled bars 19 and thethrust bearing roller 23 on the merchandise carrier, is

to enable the carrier to be moved by the application of force to one ofthe handles 43, or to one endy of the'rod j34,withoutv such displacementof the trolleysy 22 as would cause the `sides of their grooves to bindon the tread portion 21 of the track me1nber'20.Y

Inother words, lthe track members 19c and rollers 23 prevent one endofthe merchanbell crank lever 39 (Fig.

to display large. rugs dise carrier from swinging forward when force isapplied thereto to move the carrier along the frame. I have found bypractical experience that the track members 19c and rollers 23 cooperatewith the trolleys 22 and track members 20 in such manner that a carrierbearing a heavy rug or rugs can-V be easily moved along the frame bypower applied by theoperator to either end of the rod 34, or of thehandle bar 43.

To prevent undue wear ofthe hangerbar 31 and rod 34 by contactwith-each; other, I

provide said bar and rod with metallicwear V paas i7, as indicated byrig; 11,1inaidingz v so The longitudinal members 17 `maylb'epro- Y videdwith enlargements 17 a adaptedto lrest contact with 'each other.

on Supporting plates-48 on the iioor,as"ind'i cated by Figs. 1 and 3.

The channeled bars 17 maybe connected" by transverse tie-plates 49. Y

To prevent contact between adjacent sus' pended rugs I may provide lthehanger bars 31 with laterally projecting studs V,' (),"{th'e"' studs onone bar contacting withthe -n'eX'tf bar, as shown by I claim:V 1l Adisplay Vrack apa-rt horizontal channeleditrackbars havingweight-supporting trackmembers within their channels, supports'engaged-with the end portions of said bars, longitudinal rig. n.-

truss rods within said* channels, having raised end portions seated atopposite ends'V of the bars, and a depressed centralportion,

comprising spaced seated between the ends of the "bars,"fand"vmerchandise carriers having trolley'sadapted to run on said trackmembers.l

2. A display rack comprising spaced apart horizontal bars havingweight-supporting track members, supports engaged with the end portionsof said `bars,.an`d" mechandise carriers having trolleys adapted to runon said track members, each carrierincluding a hanger barv carrying'saidtrolleys,

and an elongated' merchandiselengaging"rodi pivoted to said hanger barand adapted to swing relatively' thereto ina horizontalf plane.

v3. display rackr` comprising spaced apart horizontal barshavingweight-sup--v porting track members, supports engaged;

with the lend 'portions offsaid Vbars/and merchandise carriershaving-trolleys adaptedl to run `on said track-member`s, eachcarrierincluding a hanger bar carryingv saidtr'ol` leys, and an elongatedmerchandise engag` ing rod pivoted to j said'hangerbargand adapted toswing relatively' theretoinav horizontal plane, means beingprovided?forv releasably locking therod'to the hangerfbarf to prevent. aswingingmovement ofthe rod. 4. A display rack comprising'. spaced aparthorizontal bars having weightesupporting track members, supportsengaged;

with the end portions of said bars, and mechandise carriers havintrolleys adapted to run on said track inem ers, each carrier includingan elongated merchandise-engaging rod supported by said trolleys, meansbeing provided for preventing either end of said rod from swingingfoward when pressure is applied thereto to move the carrier on the track.members 5. A display rack 'comprising spaced apart horizontal barshaving weight-supporting track members, supports engaged with the endportions of said bars, and mechandise carriers having trolleys adaptedto run on said track members, each carrier including an elongatedmerchandise-engaging rod supported by said trolleys, a handle bar belowsaid rod and rigid transverse connections between said bar and rod,means being provided for preventing either end of said rod andhandle-bar from swinging forward when pressure is applied to move thecarriers on the track members.

6. A display rack comprising spaced vapart horizontal channeled trackbars having outer flanges provided with weight-supporting track members,and inner flanges constituting thrust bearing track members, supportsengaged with the end portions of said bars, and merchandise carriershaving trolleys adapted to run on said weight-supporting track membersand rollers adapted to run on said thrust bearing track 'members, saidcarrier including a hanger bar carrying said trolleys, an elongatedmerchandise-engaging rod pivoted to said hanger bar and adapted to swingrelatively thereto in a horizontal plane, ahandle-bar below'said rod,and rigid transverse connections between said bar and rod, the hangerbar and rod being provided with complemental releasable locking meansadapted to prevent an independent swinging movement of the rod.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FREDERICK M. ETI-IRIDGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

